No pollution threat to Taj Mahal , but PM-10 level higher than normal: UP govt tells SC.

NewDelhi: The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday told the Supreme Court that pollution level around Taj Mahal had remained almost the same in the last 15 years and the monument is completely safe. It, however, admitted that the quantity of Particulate Matter (PM)-10 at the monument was above the fixed standards.

 

In an affidavit, filed in the Supreme Court by UP’s additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhati, the state government informed the court about various measures taken by it over the years to protect and preserve the monument and environment surrounding it. The government filed before the court a Comprehensive Environmental Management and Action Plan for maintaining the eco-system in Taj Trapezium Zone- a 10,400 sq km trapezium-shaped area covering over five districts of UP and one district of Rajasthan. The TTZ comprises over 40 protected monuments including three World Heritage sites — Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

 

Placing the data on air quality measured by four monitoring stations around Taj Mahal in the last 15 years, the state government said, “According to the data received from 2002 till 2016, yearly average at all four places of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are almost stable and in accordance with the notified ambient air quality standards. Only in industrial area, NO2 is more than the standards and on the four places the quantity of PM-10 is more than the standards.”

 

“It is relevant to mention that despite many times increase in pollution sources(increase in vehicles and other commercial activities) in the past years, there is a slow increase (from 147 microgram percubic meter level in 2002 to 168 level) in the quantity of PM-10 at Taj Mahal,” the affidavit said.

The state filed its response in compliance with the SC order directing it to place the comprehensive plan to protect the 17th century monument. The court has been monitoring the case for the last 31 years after it was contended that growing pollution level in the city posed serious danger to Taj and it had passed series of order including restraining authorities not to cut down any tree without its permission in TTZ.

 

Giving details of the measures taken by it, the state government told the court that there was a complete ban on using coal and coke in industrial units in TTZ and all factories were running on natural gas/LPG. It further said people were being persuaded not to use wood/kanda for cooking and gas companies had provided more than 1.5 lakh connections to people living in slums in the districts of Agra, Mathura and Ferozabad.

 

“Regional transport department is not doing registration of the vehicles older than 15 years and running of such vehicles which are more than 15 years old is completely banned in TTZ. Auto rickshaw/school buses/commercial vehicles running on diesel/petrol have been converted into CNG and proper monitoring is done … Unobstructed power supply is being ensured in Agra by which air pollution generated from generators is reduced,” it said.

“In the radius of 500m of Taj Mahal, there is restriction on vehicles running with diesel/petrol. Only the vehicles of local residents are permitted for which the entry passes are issued by the transport department,” it said.

The government said it was considering to frame a mico-level plan with the help of experts and professional institutions for protection and preservation of the monument. “It is respectfully submitted that the state is fully committed to protect environment and ensure sustainable development specifically in and around the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). The state further undertakes to follow environmental law and all the orders of this court diligently and faithfully to ensure balance of eco-system of the TTZ,” it said.